Acknowledgements James Shelenske, Kelly Kaliszewski, City Clerk’s Office Judy Balistreri, Kris Schell, South Milwaukee Historical Society Photos Courtesy of Mary Francis, Julie Swanson, and the South Milwaukee Historical Society Remember the first woman elected alderperson Mary Nelson in 1973. George C. Bush Mayor 1897 –1898 Born: February 1838 New York State Died: May 18, 1927 Wood Home for Disabled Vets Buried: Ohio Cemetery Rio, Columbia County, Wisconsin Spouse: Helen F. Knight George Bush was a Civil War veteran. He enlisted on August 1, 1861 in Fall River, Wisconsin. Racine Journal July 8, 1897: “The election in South Milwaukee resulted in the election of George C. Bush, Republican, for mayor.” The 1870 census lists him as a farmer in Otsego, Columbia County, Wisconsin. Value of property 10,000. The 1905 Wisconsin census shows him living in Milwaukee’s 17 th ward and a carpenter. Bush ran for mayor against Herman A. Ohm (who later became the postmaster) twice. He won the first election by 2 votes and the second election by 1 vote. Remember Joseph Fink had a large farm on College Avenue, now Southtowne. DeLos A. Fowle Mayor 1899 –1900 Born: November 1853 Oak Creek (South Milwaukee) Died: 1920 Buried: 1st Congregational Church Spouse: Mamie August Forbes Father: Alfred Fowle 1822 –1904 Mother: Mary Jane Baldwin Fowle 1928 –1899 Both born in England Children: Robert S. Fowle born 1877 Warren D. Fowle born 1881 Floyd L. Fowle born 1893 Occupations: 1880 census basket maker 1900 census grocery store 1910 manager coal company 1920 none News Clip: December 1901 Delos Fowle (School Board President) Delos Fowle is a representative citizen of South Milwaukee and a member of the Fowle & Bethel firm, grocers, who are located on North Chicago Avenue. Mr. Fowle is a native of South Milwaukee. He was elected mayor of this municipality two years ago, and at present holds the prominent position of president of the school board. He was the first treasurer elected in the new town, serving the public in all the officers he held with the same discrimination and wise judgment. Remember penny candy at the corner store, or when you got several pieces for one cent in a small paper bag. Frederick E. Mansfield Mayor 1900 –1901 Born: May 25, 1864 Oak Creek (South Milwaukee) Died: May 20, 1932 Los Angeles, California) Spouse: Evelyn Thelen Father: Farrier Young Mansfield (1814 -1890) Mother: Electa Rawson (1823 -1906) Electa Rawson was a descendant of Moses Rawson (1753 -1833). In 1777, Moses Rawson was a corporal in the 6 th Company Colonel James Wes- son’s regiment. ( North American Histories – Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage. ) Mansfield was one the signers of the original articles of incorporation of South Milwaukee, and was first Village President (elected December 3, 1892). The 1900 census shows his occupational as real estate. Mansfield was the South Milwaukee only mayor to be impeached: “This resulted from a dispute between the mayor and common council over the purchase of the electric light plant and the mayor’s refusal to carry out the orders of the council. The impeachment fight was carried on in circuit court until April 1900, and was only decided on the day before J. M. Millman was elected mayor to succeed Mansfield.” Remember glass milk and cream bottles delivered to your door. John M. Millman III Mayor 1901 Born: September 16,1856 Heathfield, England Died: January 26, 1936 Culpepper, Virginia Spouse(s): Lydia Venning Carrie Eliza Sweney First Wife: Lydia Venning died 6 months after they were married. Second Wife: Carrie Eliza Sweney. Married in Geneseo, Illinois on October 4, 1894. Carrie was the granddaughter of George Sweney who was a congressman from Bucyrus. Children: Louise Wyckoff Millman born in 1895 in Milwaukee John Murray Millman born in 1902 in Chicago, Illinois James Charles Millman born in 1909 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Died April 6, 1927. Adopted Son: Norman T. Williams. Was a distant relative whom Millman raised from childhood with his own children. Millman was the youngest of seven children and the only one who came to America, leaving his father, mother, five sisters and one brother behind in England. In 1880, he began working as a time -keeper for Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Co. in Ohio. He moved to South Milwaukee with the company in 1893. He earned many promotions and was secretary/ treasurer of Bucyrus for many years. For health reasons, he left South Milwaukee and Bucyrus, and relocated to Virginia, where he was a farmer. Remember Welbes Dairy delivered milk from a wagon pulled by a horse. Edward A. Bunn Mayor 1901 –1902 Born: October 1842 New York State Died: July 22, 1925 South Milwaukee Buried: 1st Congregational Cemetery Spouse: Mary E. Rust Mother: Asenath Chapman Bunn Children: Augustine, George, Alice, James, Edward and Irene Civil War Veteran Light Artillery 7 th Battery (September 19, 1861 – July 20, 1865) Obituary E.A. Bunn Funeral in South Milwaukee Funeral services for Edward A. Bunn, 82, Civil War veteran who died at the Soldiers’ home Wednesday, were held Saturday afternoon at the residence, 1603 Lake Avenue, South Milwaukee. Burial was at Congregational Cemetery. Mr. Bunn was elected the first village president in 1891 and served 2 terms. He was also a justice of the peace and police justice from the time the police court was created until old age caused his retirement four years ago. He also served on the school board and was a member of the Masonic Order. Remember the go kart track was operated by Duke’s Service Station on Rawson Avenue across from Midland Mfg. Co. Charles Franke Mayor 1902 –1908, 1910 –1916 & 1924 –1928 Born: August 22, 1864 Kassel, Germany Died: June 10, 1938 South Milwaukee Buried: Forest Hill Memorial Park Spouse: Etta Franke Charles Franke arrived in the United States on July 6, 1881, with his father at age 17, and settled near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Occupations: 1893 –1906 shoe sales and repair store; 1906 –1919 hotel and tavern; 1919 –1928 drug store. After that and until the date of his death he was employed at Bucyrus -Erie. In the early years, he worked on the farm and at the shoe trade. He moved to Milwaukee in 1887, and worked at Atkins West & Company for 5 years. He moved to South Milwaukee in 1892, and assisted in organizing the village. In South Milwaukee, he engaged in the shoe business for 14 years. He then disposed of his store and turned his attention to the hotel business. He was the proprietor of Hotel Blatz. On May 1, 1920, he established a drug store. He was a member of the South Milwaukee Fire Department for 13 years and for 3 of those years was its chief. He served one term as an alderperson from 1901 to 1903. One of his biographers said, “His advent into municipal politics was as spectacular as it was sudden. He came prominently into the limelight during the Mansfield trial in 1901, by reason of his powerful opposition to the fifty -year franchise given to the electric railroad.” Remember those who served the City. Sidney M. Smith, M.D. Mayor 1908 –1910 Born: December 2, 1873 Ontario, Canada Died: 1956 Buried: Forest Home Cemetery Spouse: Elizabeth (Lizzie) Taylor Father: Otis Smith Emigrated to the U.S.: May 8, 1900 Became Naturalized Citizen: February 24, 1906 Children: Herbert Smith born July 18, 1899 in Canada Florence Smith born May 14, 1907 in South Milwaukee From 1900 –1920 lived in Milwaukee and South Milwaukee. Founded South Milwaukee Hospital. News Clip: December 1901 —“Dr. S. M. Smith was born in New York State in 1873 [sic]. His early education was acquired in the public schools and he began the study of medicine in Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. He was graduated from that institution in 1898, after which he located in South Milwaukee, where he has since been practicing. Dr. Smith was selected by the common council to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Nolte, resigned, as commissioner of health, and was elected to the same office at the last spring election. He is medical examiner for five different lodges, and has a wide - spread practice in South Milwaukee. Dr. Smith is a young man, energetic and capable. His active interest in his profession and in the general welfare of the people brings him in touch with public affairs, and he is held in high esteem for his ability and energetic service. He is winning an inevitable position in the medical profession and is being rewarded for the merit he deserves.” Remember the Texaco Station on Hawthorne and North Chicago where the Dairy Queen is now. George E. Lorig Mayor 1916 –1920 Born: 1862 Died: August 31, 1938 Buried: Sacred Heart Cemetery Spouse: Elizabeth Lorig Son: George E. Lorig, Jr. (1893 -1938) Mayor during World War I. Lived at 818 Marquette Avenue. Fire Chief of Volunteer Fire Department from 1905 -1908. He was also the Fire Marshal of Cudahy. Remember the toy loan center on Rawson Avenue next to Rawson Park. William Grobschmidt Mayor 1920 -1924 Born: February 2, 1867 Town of Lake (now Cudahy) Died: September 20, 1957 Buried: Holy Sepulcher Cemetery Spouse: Agatha Bautz Father: John Grobschmidt Mother: Katherine Puetz Children: Nita Anderson Carl Grobschmidt John Grobschmidt Eugene Grobschmidt William Grobschmidt Marie Bleck Madison Occupations: Farmer, gravel dealer, real estate agent, insurance broker, bank president, alderperson, village president, village assessor, mayor, and city treasurer. Elected: Treasurer 1896 and 1897 Mayor 1920 and 1922 Alderperson, 5 terms 1907 -1919 Remember dish night at the movie theater. Erwin H. Baetke Mayor 1928 –1932 Born: March 8, 1895 Milwaukee County Died: February 10, 1970 Buried: Holy Sepulcher Cemetery Spouse: Ann Charlotte Grote No children.